The Delorean DMC-12 has a rich history, not because of its performance or a long production life, but because of its place in pop culture courtesy of Doc Brown and Marty McFly.

The DMC-12 is a sports car that was manufactured by the Delorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981 and 1982 in Northern Ireland. I think virtually everyone who’s even remotely into cars knows its story, but the DMC-12 is the only model Delorean ever produced. The DMC-12 featured gull-wing doors with a fiberglass underbody to which those famous brushed stainless steel panels were affixed.

Despite having just 130 hp in U.S. models, the Delorean today remains one of the most collectible models from the 1980s. One “barn find” model just sold for nearly $50,000. From the picture above, I’m sure you can guess what makes it even more rare than a typical Delorean.

This weekend I wanted to introduce my kids to something amazing. I thought maybe a hike through the wilderness or a special day at a local swimming pool would be nice as summer winds down, but then something else occurred to me. Something sure to alter their lives and influence their thinking for the rest of their lives.

We watched “Back to the Future.”

I can’t say for sure, but that could be the movie that started my car obsession. It’s why I desperately wanted a Toyota 4×4 pickup as my first car, why I freak out if I see a DeLorean in person and what caused my irrational fear of Libyans driving Volkswagens.

Did I succeed in exposing my children to a life-changing experience with the movie? Yes. Yes, I did.

It’s hard to believe that Wayne’s World came out 20 years ago. That movie defined a generation and cemented the phrase “Party on” into pop culture. Teens in the ’90s ate up the Mike Meyers/Dana Carvey comedy, and today the movie could be regarded as a cult classic.

Oddly enough, the film featured a once-laughable car and turned it into a cult favorite in its own right: the AMC Pacer.

Remember the “Bohemian Rhapsody” scene in the old Pacer? Truly a moment of cinematic history.

The Pacer is just one example of cars, some with less-than-glorious-pasts, that have achieved the level of cult favorite. Keep reading for more, and feel free to add any car you think I’ve missed. I know there are plenty.